Recognizing Myths About The Prayer --The Pitfalls Of The Jabez Territory Series

(Power Point slides and audience outline available for $10 donation to my church’s worship fund--email me or visit church’s website)

Today I continue with part 2 of the challenges of the prayer of Jabez—the pitfalls of the Jabez territory and recognizing some of the myths about this prayer. But first let’s have a little fun.

Folks I’d like to introduce the legendary Johnny Cash and his famous song—A Boy Named Sue. (Singer with guitar sings song)

My daddy left home when I was three And he didn’t leave much to ma and me Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. Now, I don’t blame him cause he run and hid But the meanest thing that he ever did Was before he left, he went and named me ``Sue.’

Well, he must o’ thought that is was quite a joke And it got a lot of laughs from a’ lots of folk, It seems I had to fight my whole life through. Some gal would giggle and I’d get red And some guy’d laugh and I’d bust his head, I tell ya, life ain’t easy for a boy named ``Sue.’’

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean, My fist got hard and my wits got keen, I’d roam from town to town to hide my shame. But I made me a vow to the moon and stars That I’d search the honky-tonks and bars And kill that man that give me that awful name.

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July And I just hit town and my throat was dry, I thought I’d stop and have myself a brew. At an old saloon on a street of mud, There at a table, dealing stud, Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me ``Sue.’’

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad from a worn-out picture that my mother’d had, And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye. He was big and bent and gray and old, And I looked at him and my blood ran cold And I said: ``My name is `Sue!’ How do you do! Now you gonna die!!

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes And he went down but, to my surprise, He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear. But I busted a chair right across his teeth And we crashed through the wall and into the street Kicking and a’ gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer

I tell ya, I’ve fought tougher men But I really can’t remember when, He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile. I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss, He went for his gun and I pulled mine first, He stood there lookin’ at me and I saw him smile

And he said: ``Son, this world is rough And if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough And I know I wouldn’t be there to help ya along. So I give ya that name and I said goodbye I knew you’d have to get tough or die And it’s that name that helped to make you strong.’’

He said: ``Now you just fought one heCK of a fight And I know you hate me, and you got the right To kill me now, and I wouldn’t blame you if you do. But ya ought to thank me, before I die, For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye Cause I’m the son-of-a-GUN that named you `Sue.’’’

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun And I called him my pa, and he called me his son, And I come away with a different point of view. And I think about him, now and then, Every time I try and every time I win, And if I ever have a son, I think I’m gonna name him Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

So parents—be careful what you name your kids. It could be a real pain for them!

Last week I began this series on the challenges of the Prayer of Jabez—this prayer which was not well known until made popular by Bruce Wilkinson in the past couple of years. I talked about what it means to ask to ask God to bless me as recorded in this prayer:

READ with me the verse from 1 Chronicles 4:10: "And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested."